History
In 1991, Umbra et Imago were created as a side-project of The Electric Avantgarde. In the following year, the two bands were still existing alongside. There were plans for The Electric Avantgarde to change its style to death metal, but those were soon dropped.[1] The band dissolved and was later reformed as Dracul so that Umbra et Imago became Mozart's main project.
In 1992 Umbra et Imago played their first stage shows, where visual effects played an important role. While the band's style was still dominated by electronic influences, there were frequent appearances of guest musicians such as Peter Heppner of Wolfsheim. The band began to develop an eccentric image and they were known for their fancy concerts . Umbra et Imago polarized critics and were even publicly criticized.[citation needed] In the same year, their album Träume, Sex und Tod was published, one year later Infantile Spiele was released.
As their album tracks often exceeded lengths of 10 minutes, they were unsuited for play in discothèques and were not included to DJs' programs. Because of that, Umbra et Imago created a remix of their song "Erotica" which they called ZöllerMussEsSpielen Mix (Zöller Must Play It Mix), referring to Michael Zöller, a resident DJ of Bochum's Zwischenfall discothèque. Despite its length, "Gothic Erotic" from the 1993 album Infantile Spiele remained the band's best known song.
In 1995, Michael Gillian and Torsten B. left the band, followed by Nail soon after. They were replaced by Lutz Demmler und Alex Perin. With the change in the line-up came a change in style. The music shifted towards guitar sounds and was expanded by hard rock elements on the album Gedanken eines Vampirs. This change was completed in 1996 with the album Mystica Sexualis, which was now gothic metal.[2] During live shows, the band would have fetish models on stage, founding their current stage concept. The 1997 maxi single Kein Gott und keine Liebe saw an increase in Neue Deutsche Härte elements and Umbra et Imago were compared to bands such as Rammstein.[3]
In 2003, guitarist Freddy Stürze left the band but joined them in 2011 again.
According to their official website, Opus Magnus, published in 2010, was Umbra and Imago's final studio album while a new DVD with live material and old songs will be released in 2011.
Work and appearance
Stage show at the Wave-Gotik-Treffen in 2014
From the beginning, Umbra et Imago have been a concept band picking up Sigmund Freud's idea that sexuality was the center of our being. They processed sadomasochistic fantasies through their cynical lyrics. According to the band, this theme was chosen because it represents the most intellectual form of sexuality.
The lyrics by Umbra et Imago are dominated by a warped, subliminal humour, criticism of human society's flaws[5] and cynical self-irony. The clichés dealt with thereby and their exaggerated depictions polarize the meaning of the band. Sexuality is major component of the concept but is no longer dominating.[4]
Their stage shows are still infamous, incorporating BDSM acts and complex pyrotechnics into their live shows.[6]
Lutz Demler has eventually become the producer of Umbra et Imago and other bands.
Rock Me Amadeus
Umbra Et Imago Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Und er lebte in der großen Stadt
Es war in Wien, war Vienna
Wo er alles tat
Er hatte Schulden, denn er trank
Doch ihn liebten alle Frauen
Und jede rief
„Come on, rock me, Amadeus“
Er war Superstar
Er war populär
Er war so exaltiert
Because er hatte Flair
Er war ein Virtuose
War 'n Rockidol
Und alles rief
„Come on, rock me, Amadeus“
Amadeus, Amadeus, Amadeus
Amadeus, Amadeus, Amadeus
Amadeus, Amadeus, oh, oh, oh Amadeus
Amadeus, Amadeus, Amadeus
Amadeus, Amadeus, Amadeus
Amadeus, Amadeus, oh, oh, oh Amadeus
You wanna rock me, Amadeus
Es war um 1780
Und es war in Wien
No plastic money anymore
Die Banken gegen ihn
Woher die Schulden kamen
War wohl jedermann bekannt
Er war ein Mann der Frauen
Frauen liebten seinen Punk
Er war Superstar
Er war populär
Er war so exaltiert
Because er hatte Flair
Er war ein Virtuose
War 'n Rockidol
Und alles rief
„Come on, rock me, Amadeus“
Amadeus, Amadeus, Amadeus
Amadeus, Amadeus, Amadeus
Amadeus, Amadeus, oh, oh, oh Amadeus
Amadeus, Amadeus, Amadeus
Amadeus, Amadeus, Amadeus
Amadeus, Amadeus, oh, oh, oh Amadeus
You come and rock me, Amadeus
Amadeus, Amadeus, Amadeus
Amadeus, Amadeus, Amadeus
Amadeus, Amadeus, Amadeus
Amadeus, Amadeus, Amadeus
Amadeus, Amadeus, Amadeus
Amadeus, Amadeus
Amadeus, Amadeus, Amadeus
Amadeus, Amadeus, Amadeus
Amadeus, Amadeus, oh, oh, oh Amadeus
Amadeus, Amadeus, Amadeus
Amadeus, Amadeus, Amadeus
Amadeus, Amadeus, oh, oh, oh Amadeus
You come and rock me, Amadeus
Amadeus, Amadeus, Amadeus
Amadeus, Amadeus, Amadeus
Amadeus, Amadeus, oh, oh, oh Amadeus
Amadeus, Amadeus, Amadeus
Amadeus, Amadeus, Amadeus
Amadeus, Amadeus, oh, oh, oh Amadeus
You come and rock me, Amadeus
Amadeus, Amadeus, Amadeus
Amadeus, Amadeus, Amadeus
Amadeus, Amadeus, oh, oh, oh Amadeus
You come and rock me, Amadeus
Amadeus, Amadeus, Amadeus
Amadeus, Amadeus, Amadeus
Amadeus, Amadeus, oh, oh, oh Amadeus
The song "Rock Me Amadeus" by Umbra Et Imago tells the story of a punk rocker living in Vienna who has gained fame and popularity for his musical talent. Despite his financial struggles and penchant for alcohol, he is loved by many women who are drawn to his charisma and music. The lyrics speak of his superstar status, his guitar playing skills, and the way he captures the hearts of women. The chorus repeatedly utters the name "Amadeus" and invites him to come and rock the singer.
The reference to Amadeus is that the punk rocker is compared with the classical composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, who was a musical genius and virtuoso. The lyrics suggest that the punk rocker is the modern-day equivalent of Mozart, with his musical prowess making him a superstar. The song's title "Rock Me Amadeus" is an invitation for the composer to play his music and rock the singer, who wants to have a similar effect on his audience.
The song also references the debt and financial struggles of the punk rocker. The reference to "no plastic money anymore" and the banks against him highlight his financial woes. However, the lyrics suggest that his charismatic personality and musical talent make him irresistible to women, who overlook his financial problems.
Line by Line Meaning
Er war ein Punker
He was a punk
Und er lebte in der großen Stadt
And he lived in the big city
Es war in Wien, war Vienna
It was in Vienna
Wo er alles tat
Where he did everything
Er hatte Schulden, denn er trank
He had debts because he drank
Doch ihn liebten alle Frauen
But all women loved him
Und jede rief
And every one called out
„Come on, rock me, Amadeus“
"Come on, rock me, Amadeus"
Er war Superstar
He was a superstar
Er war populär
He was popular
Er war so exaltiert
He was so exalted
Because er hatte Flair
Because he had flair
Er war ein Virtuose
He was a virtuoso
War 'n Rockidol
He was a rock idol
Und alles rief
And everyone called out
„Come on, rock me, Amadeus“
"Come on, rock me, Amadeus"
Amadeus, Amadeus, Amadeus
Amadeus, Amadeus, Amadeus
Amadeus, Amadeus, Amadeus
Amadeus, Amadeus, Amadeus
Amadeus, Amadeus, oh, oh, oh Amadeus
Amadeus, Amadeus, oh, oh, oh Amadeus
Amadeus, Amadeus, Amadeus
Amadeus, Amadeus, Amadeus
Amadeus, Amadeus, Amadeus
Amadeus, Amadeus, Amadeus
Amadeus, Amadeus, oh, oh, oh Amadeus
Amadeus, Amadeus, oh, oh, oh Amadeus
You wanna rock me, Amadeus
You wanna rock me, Amadeus
Es war um 1780
It was around 1780
Und es war in Wien
And it was in Vienna
No plastic money anymore
No plastic money anymore
Die Banken gegen ihn
The banks against him
Woher die Schulden kamen
Where the debts came from
War wohl jedermann bekannt
Was probably known to everyone
Er war ein Mann der Frauen
He was a man of women
Frauen liebten seinen Punk
Women loved his punk
You come and rock me, Amadeus
You come and rock me, Amadeus
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Ferdinand D. Bolland, Robert J. Bolland, Johann Hoelzel
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind